Wagon-tongue support.



F. R. W'ILC OX.

WAGON TONGUE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. m7.

Patented July 31, 1917.

FREDRICK n. WILoox, or sraa LIME wonxs, KENTUCKY.

WAGON -TON GUE SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Application filed February 12, 1917. Serial No. 148,158.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDRICK R. Wrncox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Star Lime Works, in the county of Lyon and State of Kentucky. have invented a new and useful Wagon-Tongue Support, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to clevicesfor supporting the tongues of wagons and other vehicles, and aims to provide a novel and improved attachment applicable to vehicle tongues or poles for supporting them above the ground when the vehicle is standing idle, or while the draft animals are being hitched to the vehicle.

It is the object of the invention to provide a. device of that character embodying a leg hinged to the tongue to swing clownwardly for supporting the tongue and to swing upwardly against the tongue snugly out of the way, the device having novel means for automatically swinging the leg upwardly against the tongue.

It is also the object of the invention to provide a device of the nature indicated which is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, which can bereadily applied to various vehicle tongues, and which will serve its oflice in a thoroughly desirable and efficient manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a side elevation of the device as applied, portions being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan view showing the connection between the spring and link.

In the drawing, there is depicted a portion of an ordinary vehicle tongue 1, it being understood that the present device can be applied to the tongue of any suitable vehicle, for supporting it above the ground when the vehicle is at a standstill.

The attachment embodies a leg 2 constructed of wood or any other suitable ma of the member 7 have The yoke 8 is provided terial and of suitablelength-to support the tongue the desired distance above the ground, one end of the leg or support 2 being hinged to the tongue 1, preferably near its free end. A suitable hinge 3"is employed, the same having one leaf 4' secured to the lower surface of the tongue and preferably pro ecting toward the free end of the tongue, the hinge having a second loose leaf 5, which is preferably of channel-shape, as seen in Fig. 2, to receive the butt end of the leg 2. Said leg is secured firmly to the leaf 5 between the flanges thereof, to provide a strong connection between the leg and tongue. When the leg is not in use, it is swung rearwardly and upwardly against the lower surface of the tongue, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. -1, whereby the leg will be out of the way. To support the. tongue, the leg isswung downwardly and forwardly to upright position, as seen'in full lines in Fig. 1. i 3

Means is employed for automatically raising the leg against the tongue and for holding it thereagainst, and for this purpose a link 6 formed of wire or other suitable material is employech the same being doubled or of loop-shape with its longitudinal side members 7 extending obliquely or diagonally across the opposite sides of the tongue lin rear of the hinge 3. The members 7 are con nected at their upper ends by a yoke or cross piece 8 extending across the upper surface of the tongue, and the lower ends pintles or fingers 9 extending at an angle toward one another and engaged pivotally through the flanges of the leaf 5 and within the leg 2, as seen in Fig. 2. The members 7 are slidable through Patented July 31, 1917. v

staples or suitable guides 10 carried by the sides of the tongue 1 in rear of the hinge 3. with a kink 11 with which one end of a coiled wire retractile spring 12 is engaged, said spring extending rearwardly from the link 6, as seen in Fig. 1, and having its rear end anchored, as at 13, upon the tongue. The link 6 serves to connect the spring 12 with the leg 2, whereby the retractile tension of the spring will pull the link 6 rearwardly, which in turn will swing the leg 2 rearwardly and upwardly. Thus, when the tongue is lifted or the vehicle movedforwardly so as to release the leg 2, the leg will be swung rearwardly and upwardly against the tongue under the influence of the spring 12, and the spring will hold the leg in place out of the way. This makes the action automatic, and relieves the driver of the necessity of swinging the leg out ofthe way.

A staple 14: or other suitable stop is applied to the upper surface of the tongue 1 at'a suitable point, whereby to be engaged by the yoke 8 when the leg 2 is swung to vertical position, thereby limiting the movement of the parts. The members 7 hate kinks 15 at suitable points thereof, which move through the staples or guides 10 when the leg 2 is swung against the tongue 1, and said kinks provide shoulders which drop into engagement with the guides 10, thereby serving as a latch for holding the leg 2 against the tongue 1, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This prevents the jolts or vibrations to which the tongue is subjected, from vibratingor oscillating the leg 2, but said leg can be readily moved downwardly and forwardly by manual force. The spring 12 not only pulls the link 6 rearwardly, but also tends to swing the rear portion thereof downwardly whereby the kinks or shoulders 15 snap into engagement with the guides 10 as above indicated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a vehicle tongue, of a leg hinged thereto for supporting it, a

guide carried by the tongue, a link pivot-' ally connected with the leg and slidable through said guide, and a spring carried by the tongue connected to said link for swinging the leg against the tongue.

2. The combination with a vehicle tongue, of a leg hinged thereto for supporting it, a

copiesof this patent may be obtained for guide carried by the tongue, a link pivotally connected with the leg and slidable through said guide, and a spring for swinging the leg against the tongue, said link having a portion to snap into engagement with the guide for holding the leg against the tongue.

3. The combination with a vehicle tongue, of a leg hinged thereto to support it, a guide carried by the tongue, a link connected to the leg slidable through said guide and extending obliquely across the tongue, said link having a portion engageable with said guide for holding the leg against the tongue, and a spring connecting said link and tongue for swinging the leg against the tongue and moving said portion into engagement with the guide.

a. The combination with a vehicle tongue, of a leg hinged thereto for supporting it, guides carried bythe sides of the tongue, a link having longitudinal side members slidable through said guides and extending obliquely across the sides of the tongue, the lower ends of said members being pivotally engaged with the leg, he link having ayoke connecting the upper ends of said members, said members having portions to snap mto engagement with said guides when the leg is swun upwardly against the tongue, and a coile wire retractile spring connecting said yoke and tongue.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my 'signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

' FREDRICK R. \VILCOX.- Witnesses: Y

B. H..SPUR11IER, PAULINE SPURRIER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

